1856 FE cent vs. 1855 FE pattern cent (J-168)

RYK

Which would you rather have, the fabled 1856 FE cent in G-4 for $4000 (Trends) or the 1855 pattern FE cent (J-168) in PF-64 for $2500 (available on well-known pattern dealer's website)?

Lakesammman

That's a tough one.......I'd opt for the 1855 (if nice).

ccrdragon

I'd go for the '55 also

Baley

the 55, hands down. is this a trick question?

RYK

No trick...the vagueries and apparent dislocations of coin pricing often astound me. It seems that the J-168, being far more scarce than the 1856 FE, should sell at a premium to the latter, not a substantial discount.

I would be interested to hear what the pattern experts have to say on the matter.

Mark

Presuming the pattern isn't the ugliest PR64 I've ever seen, I'd opt for the pattern.

The obvious reason why an 1856 FE cent in low grade has the same price as a scarce pattern in high grade is that the demand for the two differ. Many, many collectors who will never frequent these boards want an 1856 FE. Very few collectors want a J-168. (Indeed, there is a board member with a nickname of 56FlyingEagle. There is NOT a board member with the nickname J-168! ) I already have several patterns from that era and so I have a demand for the J-168. Others who have responded quite likely can appreciate the absolute rarity of the J-168 as compared to the 1856 FE. But, we are a small sampling. The demand for the 1856 FE is much greater than that for the J-168.

Mark

RKKay

It seems to me that the big issue is that the "regular issue" FE has received so much publicity and is considered by many to be a regular issue, thereby putting it on the radar screen of many times the number of collectors than those who collect patterns. The same is true of the 1864 IHC with L and corresponding patterns, as well as the 1867 with rays Shield Nickel.

Edited to add: BTW, I believe the the J-168 in question is mine.

MrEureka

1855 Flying Eagle large cents are great, but 54's are better!

goose3

I'm not familiar with the 55 pattern. Can someone PLease post a pic so I can decide???

(Just to let you know my ebay name is 1856fe!!)LOL!

wondercoin

"as well as the 1867 with rays Shield Nickel."

Perhaps later this century collectors will make the shift in valuation suggested in this thread. The 1867 with rays shield nickel has a mintage of roughly 2 dozen coins and is possibly upwards of a $150,000 coin in PR66 grade. The pattern 1867 with rays shield nickel struck in COPPER in my pattern nickel collection has a mintage of possibly a half dozen or so coins (4x rarer) and is still (rediculously) priced in the guides at under 1/10 the price of the regular issue coin. Same is true for the 1854/55 flying eagle patterns vs. 1856 - nothing will change overnight, but, gradually I believe these coins will gain favor.

Wondercoin

MrEureka

1855 Flying Eagles

1854 Flying Eagles

cosmicdebris

1855 for me

RYK

Here is a picture of the 1855. I doubt that Rick will mind that I lifted it from his site.

goose3

I'll take the '56!

KlectorKid

I love them both but i would go for the 55 just because of how much nicer an example u can get for so much less money. A mean if i want to buy a really expensive coin i would want it to all be legable wouldnt u. (in some cases however this is difficult.)